Fernando Alonso believes this is "probably" his "last Formula 1 race in Barcelona".

Fernando Alonso addressed the possibility during the Spanish Grand Prix press conference that this could be his last race at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. The Spaniard, whose future in Formula 1 remains uncertain beyond this season, delivered a message that was both nostalgic and serene.

Twenty-three Spanish Grand Prix, even more years of presence on this circuit, and perhaps one last time. Fernando Alonso He said it with the quiet frankness that characterizes him: "This will be a special weekend, probably my last race in Barcelona in Formula 1I want to thank everyone. I'm going to try to make the most of this weekend.

Furthermore, Barcelona will no longer be a permanent fixture on the Formula 1 calendar in 2027—replaced by the Madring—but will rotate with the Spa Grand Prix, and the Asturian driver has not yet decided whether he will continue his career beyond the current season. The calculation is simple: "If I don't know what I'm doing next year, it's almost impossible to be sure of what I'll be doing in 2028." Indeed, he knows he probably won't be on track for long in qualifying, and that the race pace won't be what he'd like. But he wants to go all the way, savor every lap, and give his fans something to celebrate. "They've all been magical. And this one has to be too."

His best memories

He also clarified that he will make his decision after the summer, without having yet finalized anything. The Spaniard acknowledged considering each race this season as potentially his last on the circuit in question. "My last time in Australia; my last time in China; my last time in Monaco" — but Barcelona has a special significance, in addition to the fact that the Spanish event will not be on the calendar next year. It was here that he carried out his first tests in carIn 1994.

This is where her career took root, even before it truly existed. “My first test with Renault"With Benetton, events took place on this circuit. Many moments I will always remember." Among them, a delightful episode: a ride in a Renault Mégane with Juan Carlos I, King of Spain at the time, in the passenger seat. "On the third corner, he wasn't very comfortable in the car, and I didn't realize that the King was in the passenger seat."

Asked about his best memory in Barcelona, ​​Alonso doesn't hesitate for long: 2006, the victory under maximum pressure, the year after the first title, with the whole country at his feet. “Expectations were huge for us after winning the championship in 2005 and starting from pole position. Everyone expected us to win on Sunday. I think that will be my best memory.”

"I am at peace with my career and my life."

The current sporting context is the complete opposite of those years of domination. Aston Martin struggling to make an impact in the midfield, and Alonso has no illusions about this Catalan weekend: he will not be "Not very present in qualifying" — meaning: an early exit in Q1 — and hopes to last as long as possible in the race. The car's upgrades aim to improve the situation by the end of the season, with the hope of fighting in the midfield for the second half of the championship. But for now, performance is suffering.

Yet, when asked if all of this is difficult to cope with mentally, Alonso responds with disarming serenity. What really weighs on him isn't the idea that this is his last race here—it's not being competitive. The rest? “I am at peace with my career and my life. I have achieved far more than I ever dreamed of achieving. When I was a child, I used to come here, drive go-karts, and dream of being a Formula 1 driver. Everything else is a bonus.” A phrase that says it all about a man who has won everything, and who knows exactly what he represents — for himself, for his country, for this sport.

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